Visible-light photocatalysis of PDI nanowires enhanced by plasmonic effect of the gold nanoparticles

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Environmental, 2018-12, Vol.239, p.61-67
• Main Authors: Miao, Hong, Yang, Jun, Wei, Yunxia, Li, Wenlu, Zhu, Yongfa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodegradation; Carriers separation; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Electrons; Electrostatics; Environmental degradation; Gold; Holes (electron deficiencies); Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Nanowires; Optical properties; Organic chemistry; Organic materials; PDI@AuNPs composites; Phenols; Photocatalysis; Photodegradation; Pollutants; Resonance; Resonance energy transfer; Surface plasmon resonance; Visible light photocatalysis; Water pollution
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.08.009

PDI materials are considered as a promising route to mitigate water pollution or other environmental problems. Otherwise, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of the AuNPs could promote the absorption of visible light effectively. Herein, SPR-supported visible-light-responsive photocatalyst of PDI@AuNPs were prepared through the electrostatic adsorption. The results show that the PDI@AuNPs composite appeared higher visible light degradation rate (k) towards the phenol, which is 1.7 times than the PDI nanowires. The system of the PDI@AuNPs composite is responsible for the highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of pollutants. What’s more, the PDI@AuNPs composite simultaneously exhibits great stability and cycle utilization than the pure PDI. [Display omitted] •SPR-supported photocatalyst of PDI@AuNPs system were prepared and appeared higher photocatalytic degration of pollutants.•The visible light absorption of the photocatalysts can be used effectively by the SPR effection of the AuNPs.•PDI@AuNPs composite is favorable for the efficient transfer of the photo-excited electrons and holes than pure PDI.•PDI@AuNPs composite is more stability than pure self-assembled PDI. PDI molecules catalysts had shown much great advantages such as optical properties and chemical electronic tunability, rich elements of resources and structural diversity. These organic materials are considered as a promising route to mitigate water pollution or other environmental problems. So, many researchers have conduct related research in the past few decades. Otherwise, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of the AuNPs could promote the absorption of visible light effectively. Herein, SPR-supported visible-light-responsive photocatalyst of PDI@AuNPs were prepared through the electrostatic adsorption. The results show that the PDI@AuNPs composite appeared higher visible light degradation rate (k) towards the phenol, which is 1.7 times than the PDI nanowires. The highly photocatalytic activity of the PDI@AuNPs could own to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of AuNPs. Specifically, SPR effect of the AuNPs and the RET process between AuNPs and PDI could be beneficial for utilizing the visible light. Thus, the visible light utilization of PDI@AuNPs is higher than the PDI nanowires. Meanwhile, the ability of electrons and holes separation are greatly improved by the lower Fermi level of Au, which is favorable for the efficient transfer of the photo-excited electron-hole pairs. Overal